Pagari Bulan [Movie Review]

Pagari Bulan [Movie Review] | A few days ago, I received and invitation from Eleven Field Creative Sdn Bhd to attend the premiere of Pagari Bulan. 

Intrigued by the title and the poster with the slogan 'A story of a comfort woman', I attended the premiere. 

SYNOPSIS

Pagari Bulan (2023) Trivia

• Starring: Nazeera Sardi, Trisha Ooi, Aniq Durar, Alvin Wong, Putri Irin, Andy The, Wan Azli Wan Jusoh, Michael Ang, Laila Nasir, Chelsia Ng, Hazi Juzaili, Azlan Komeng & Helmy Hakim
• Director: Ts Raja Mukhriz
• Producer: Sharifah Shahora
• Production Companies: Eleven Field Creative Sdn Bhd & Metrowealth
• Distributed by:  Metrowealth
• Release date: October 5, 2023
• Country: Malaysia
• Language: Malay

Bulan grows up with his parents and sister, Kasih in Kelantan. She is close to Siu Li, the daughter of Ah Leong, the shopkeeper in a village in Kelantan.

Her father always brings her to hunt and she knows how to handle a shotgun. 

Realising that the Japanese occupation via Kelantan is imminent, the villagers start to bulk up the defence of their village. But their defence is hugely lacking when their women - old and young are captured by the Japanese. Bulan, Kasih and Sui Li indluded. The ladies will be trained by Momosan to satisfy the Japanese soldiers' needs - whatever it may be. Thus, the women become the comfort women for the Japanese soldiers. Kuzawa heads the troop at the village and Azu is his right hand. They rule the village cruelly, iron-fisted style.

This enrages the villagers and they plan for a revenge and to save their women from the Japanese. And they failed miserably.

Bulan, being raised independent and strong-headed, always rebels and fights against any action that the Japanese soldiers make - may it to Kasih, Sui Li and herself. Her stubbornness attracts the interest of Miura, a Japanese lieutenant who thinks that Kazuwa is ruling the village wrongly and intends to right the way. 

Sui Li, being protective towards her friends too, allows herself to be enslaved by the Japanese so that they will not be harmed by the soldiers. She plans her way to the top of the Japanese management and tries to kill the Japanese.

Meanwhile, Miura tries his best to get close to Bulan, but Bulan raises walls around her to guard her wellbeing, along with her sister's and bestfriend's.

Bulan's father is captured while trying to free Bulan and her friends and now being slaved to build a bridge. 

Can Bulan free her friends and herself? Can she save her family and her village?

MY REVIEW

Plot: 4.7/ 5.0 I went in with no expectation, mostly intrigued by the 'A story of a comfort woman' line. 

The character building is sufficient, the choreography of the fights feels natural, the CGI not cringey or overwhelming and the twist was sweet at the end of the film. The storytelling manages to pull me in and be a part of the film. 

You go, Bulan!

The revenge is best served cold, hard and cruel!

I assume the person who holds the picture is Bulan's son. That part was a bit confusing. 

Above all, this is one great Malaysian movie that all of you should go and watch. 

Cast: 4.7/ 5.0 Amazingly, almost all actors are new actors and they all did amazingly. As it was supposedly happened in Kelantan, some actors sound a bit funny trying to converse in Kelantanese dialog.

Other than that, it was a great cast. 

Will I Watch It Again: Yes, I don't mind watching it again. 

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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